Folding cot



J. L. CABLE FOLDING COT Filed Feb. 16, 1926 Jan. 3, 1928.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 3, 1928.

J. L. CABLE FOLDING COT Filed Feb.'1 s. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

uN-iTED STATES 1,654,529 PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS L.' CABLFi, OF BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CABLE GORPORA TION', OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

' FOLDING COT.

Application filed February 16, 1926.v Serial No. 88,566.

This invention relates to folding cots of the general type shown in my Patent 1,507,- 906, in which the frame and legs are formed from semi-tubular metal, and the legs are pivotally connected to the side bars to permit them to be folded in parallel relation thereto. g

In cots of this type some means is necessarily provided to lock the legs in position of use at right angles to the side bars, the means which has been most generally employed being various forms of fol-ding braces, many of which, while they perform their intended function, are unsatisfactory for various reasons, inthat they are liable to permit'the leg to collapse, under some conditions of use, and do not hold the leg in position of use with'the desired rigidity and security.

Theobjects of my invention are to provide .means for locking the folding legs of a device of this character which will be positive and secure,gso that all possibility that the legs will be permitted to collapse will be avoided. Also to provide a locking means in which the use of all forms of folding braces will be avoided, and which enables a construction to be produced which is of simple and attractive appearance, and enables a reduction in manufacturing costs as compared with the common type of folding brace.

A further object is to combine the top or bed of the cot with the leg locking means in such a manner that weighton the top acts to increase the effectiveness with which the legs are locked- I accomplish these objects in the manner hereinafter described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a folding cot embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end view.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of one corner of the frame.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sectional Views of the leg and side rail connections.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of one of the side rails.

In general construction and arrangement the cot illustrated is similar to that shown in my said prior patent, comprising two pairs of side bars 1, and three pairs of pivotally connectedcrossed legs 2, one pair being arranged in the middle, and the other pairs at the ends. The .form of joint between the legs and side bars illustrated is practically identical to that disclosed in my pending application filed August 6, 1925, Serial Number 48,621, and comprises a pair of head sections-3 which are riveted to the upper end. of the leg and for1na.cylindrically shaped T-head, which is disposed between the sides of the side bar and pivotal 1y connected thereto by a pivot pin 4 at one end. The end portions of the side bars are shaped in a U-form in cross-section, and, be-

tweentheir end portions, their side portions are drawn inward so as to form a relatively narrow slotv5, as shown in Fig. 7, and the canvas top, or bed (3 is extended between opposite bars over the'upper sides thereof, about their outer sides and thru the slot 5 of each bar, and then about a cord 7, of sub stantially greater: diameter than the slot, so that the top is securely attached to the bars thereby. The portions of the canvas which comes oppositethe end portions of the bars is cut away and the cord is discontinued at thesepoints. -IIrPl2tCii1C6, the canvas is not applied to the frame until after the metal work and the; canvas top have been finished, the cord, being held in the .top by stitching. In applying the top to the frame one end of the top is slid into onepair of bars from their middle ends and drawn along therein to the opposite ends thereof, until it is in position andthen the opposite end of the top is drawn into the other .pair of bars in like manner, until the whole top is in the position shown in Fig. 1. The cord prevents the withdrawal of the top from within the side bars by strain thereon transversely of the bars, the pull on the cord being somewhat relieved by the half turn of the canvas about the bar. 7 I

For the purpose of providing means for locking the legs in their position of use, or unfolded position at right angles to the bars,

a stud 8, having a head 8, is rigidly mounted bar extending for a substantial distance beyond the opposite end of the T-head from the pivot. Said side bar end-portion is provided with an aperture 9 thru which the stud 8 passes when the leg is swung up to the right angular position in which the top portion of the head thereon engages the inner or underside of the side bar, inwhich position the stud 8 projects above the bar to such an extent that there is a space of substantial width between the under side of the head 8 and the top surface of the bar. A locking slide 10 is slidably mounted on the end portion of each side bar, said slides being similarly shaped and held thereon in corresponding relation. A pin 11 is mounted in the sides of each slide-and extends thru an inclined slot 12 in each side of the side bar. Each slide is also provided with a notch 13 in the middle of its inner end in position to receive the stud 8, so that the stem of the stud will be located'in the slot and the head of the stud will rest on the slide at each side of its notch. The slots 12 are inclined upward from the ends of the side bars, so that, in looking the leg in position of use, the slide is pushed inward until its notch 12 receives the stud 8, and, as it is pushed inward, it is forced upward by reason of the inclination of the slot-s 12, thereby acting to draw the stud 8 upward, so as to draw the T-head 3 firmly against the under side of the side bar. The slides 10 are formed to extend beyond the ends of the side bars to a substantial extent and each side of the extended portion thereof is provided with a strap aperture 14. A strap 15 is secured in each end of the canvas top. 6 and extends the entire width thereof and beyond the side edges, and each end portion of the strap'is passed over the adjacent slide and back thru the apertures 14 thereof, and then drawn tight and secured by means of a buckle 16 on the under side of the top.

By this arrangement the end portions of the canvas are supported at the level of the other portions thereof and, at the same time, when the weight of a person is being supported by the canvas there will be tendency to draw the same from each end towards the middle, so that not only is any tendency resisted for the slides to move in a direction to unlock the legs, but there is also a tendency to force the slides in a direction to lock the legs more securely and to draw the T-heads thereon more firmly against the under sides of the side bars, thus forcing the legs into their right angular position, in case it should happen that the slide had not been forced inward to its fullest extent when the cot was set up. As the locking slides for the legs appear as continuations of the side bars, and use of braces is avoided, the appearance of the cot, when set up, is improved.

fitted on said side bar, the latter having-op-V positely disposed slots in the side ofits'end portions arranged to inc'line upward" as they extend towards the said opening therein, pin mounted in the sides of said slide and ex-- tending thru said slots and means in the upper end of said stud arranged to be engaged by said slide to lock said T-head in engaged position.

2. A folding cot comprising sidebarsha-w ing a textile top connected thereto, a leg at the end of each side bar having a T-head at its upper end, each T-head having a pivotal connection at one end with the side bar, to permit the top portion of the bar to be swung into engagement with the underside of the bar to which it is pivoted, a stud rigidly mounted in each head remote from its pivot and means permitting'the same to extendthru its bar when its T-head is in engaging position, and a slide mounted on the end portion of each bar for movement longitudinally thereof arranged-to engage said stud to lock the T-head in engaging position and having a connection with the adjacent-end portion of the topin such a position-that strain on the top from each end towards the middle tends to hold the slides in lookmg engagements with their respective studs.

In testimony whereof, I have signedmy name to this specification;

JULIUS L. CABLE; 

